Southampton - There is wildlife in the Hamptons, and I'm not referring to those stampeding to the check-out line at Citarella's - we have owls, birds, and so much more - and the recovery and care of these animals was the focus of "Get Wild!" The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center benefit held at the magnificent Southampton ocean front home of Liz Brown and Leslie Alexander (owner of the Houston Rockets basketball team) on Saturday, August 20, 2011.

The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center is an East End organization known for rescuing and rehabilitating the region's injured native wildlife, formerly the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons, this is a not-for-profit wildlife hospital dedicated to the rehabilitation of wild animals impacted by human encroachment on their habitat. A grassroots organization, the Center has grown from a few concerned friends to a group of over 1,000 members and supporters. The Center is a full-time professional wildlife hospital staffed by licensed rehabilitators, biologists, animal behaviorists and volunteers. Located in a unique and irreplaceable ecosystem, the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center facility consists of salt and fresh water wetlands, pine barrens, deciduous forest and meadowland. The hospital at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center is designed exclusively for wild animals. Unlike veterinary hospitals, the space is free of any ambient noises or smells to stress the animals that are recovering within.

Ginnie Frait, one of the Executive Directors of the Rescue Center addressed guests at the event urging them to remember that the Center always needs financial support, "We can better maintain our medical equipment, get the best veterinary care, and gather skills and training to increase our success rate. We are able to offer state-of-the-art care to our wild neighbors that so richly deserve it because they are usually injured by human activities."

The event was chaired by Avis Richards (who is also the founder and CEO of Birds Nest Foundation), Beth Ostrosky Stern, and Marcy Warren, and honored the late Evelyn Alexander, as well as celebrated the rehabilitation of thousands of Long Island's wildlife.

The animal-friendly event featured cocktails and gourmet hors d'oeuvres provided by Mayan Axelrod, as well as musical entertainment by Adele and Chris Cangeleri. Chris is a veterinarian in Rocky Point, and Adele enjoyed a little teasing about how happy her mother must be that she married a doctor who is also an artist!

Among Saturday's guests were Ellen and Chuck Scarborough, Jean Shafiroff, Michael Warren, Bruce Richards, Celia and Tim Cunningham, Ellen and Jan Linhart, D.D.S., Tara Allmen, M.D., Joni and Christopher Fischer, and numerous others who came to show their support for this important and necessary organization.

When speaking with Shafiroff, well-known for her philanthropic endeavors, she relayed "This is as important a charity as any other. I have four rescue dogs and two cats, and along with support and attention for these animal rescue hospitals and centers, it is important to remember that non-domesticated animals need our help as well."

Avis Richards echoed this same sentiment and revealed, "This organization is so important. There is wildlife all around us here in the Hamptons, and although many are just driving to avoid the deer, it is really important to recognize that the wildlife needs our help and support to maintain the balance of nature in our area."

A live auction featuring exclusive items such as a Hamptons' dining experience to restaurants Colicchio & Sons, East Hampton Grill and Navy Beach, also included a signed copy of "The Cookbook Introduction by "Top Chef," Tom Colicchio, four tickets to "Mamma Mia," two season tickets to the Hampton Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season, four empire tickets to a Mets game, a VIP tour of Lieb Vineyard for four, a studio tour of Sirius/XM Studios and a sit-in on Howard Stern's 100's The Wrap Up Show with Gary Dell Abate, a handmade duck sculpture from Dianne Marxe, a custom designed shawl from Kimberly Towers, a designer coat from The Laundry, a men's wool jacket from Nautica, a necklace from HONORA and a signed Rangers' jersey, just to name a few.

• Birds return to the same location each Spring and some even to the same nest. • Gulls are nature's natural sanitation crew. • A snowy owl can hear small creatures digging under a foot of snow. • Box turtles can live for 100 years. • Fledgling birds cannot fly for 24 to 48 hours after they leave the nest. • The eyesight of a hawk is eight to 10 times better than an average human. • Raccoons can remember simple tasks (like how to undo latches) for up to three years.

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